Fence-post.



PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903.

Nb; 722,615i

w. 1-1.. OWENS. FENGE POST. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

time STATES PATEN WILLIAM E. OWENS, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,615, dated March 10, 1903.

Application filed March 11, 1902. Serial No. 97,738. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. OWENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the countyof Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Fence-Post, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object the production of a fence-post in which are combined all the advantages of a cement or stone post, an iron post, and a wooden post; and it consists in a wooden core, a system of iron braces supporting and strengthening the wooden core, and an inclosing envelop of cement.

The invention further consists in certain novel features of construction, all as hereinafter shown and described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrative of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the post complete. the wooden core and the bracing and inclosing metal framework before the cement is added. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line a: a: of Fig. 1.

The post comprises a wooden core 5, metal end plates 6 and 7, metal tie-rods 8, connecting the plates 6 and 7 at a suitable number of points, tension-screws 9, by which the tierods may be clamped in position, and an envelop of cement, (represented at 10.) If preferred, a nail or screw (indicated at 6) may be inserted into the endof the core through the plates 6 and 7 as an additional holding means to assist in retaining the core in engagement with the plates.

The tie-rods are shown engaged with plate 7 by loops engaging perforations in the plate and the ends twisted around the body of the rod above the plate, as shown at 8, which is a very simple and convenient manner of fas-- toning, although the rods may be connected to the plate in any other suitable manner, and I do not wish to be limited to the manner shown of connecting the rods to the plate.

The tension-screws 9 are provided with nuts 13 outside the plate 6, by which the rods may be strained longitudinally to firmly clamp the wooden core and afford a bracing support thereto.

After the wooden core, end plates, and ten- Fig. 2 is a side elevation of sion brace-rods are assembled the core and rods are inclosed in a cement envelop (represented at 10) conforming to the area of the plates 6 and 7 and extending between the plates and entirely inclosing the core rods and plates, thus presenting the appearance of a stone post with nothing exposed but the cement.

Before the cement is placed around the wooden core, or, preferably, before the plates and rods are placed in position upon the core, the core will be coated or otherwise impregnated with coal-tar, creosote, or other preservative.

The post thus constructed possesses all the pressure-resisting advantages of a cement or stone post, all the tensile strength of the iron,

composite, or braced post, and all the transverse stiffness and breakage-resisting power of the wooden post. The post will also be very durable and moisture-resisting. The post may be of any size and length; but for an average fence-post the core portion should be about two inches square and about six feet long, and the plates 6 and 7 should be about three inches square, and the tie-rods 8 should be of about No. 9 wire.

The tie-rods and plates should be of steel; but any other suitable metal may be employed.

All the metal parts may-be coated with any suitable preservative or protective compound or material.

As many of the tie-rods may be employed as required; but generally four will be suflicient, as shown.

The post may be made tapering from the bottom up, if preferred, and may be supplied with transverse recesses or creases 11 for the wires when employed for wire fences and I tension of said tie-rods, and a cement envelop inclosing said core, plates and rods, substantially as described.

3. In a fence-post, a core of Wood impregnated with a preservative compound, plates engaging the ends of said core, tie-rods engaging said plates, and an envelop of cement inclosing said' core, plates and rods, substantially as described.

4:. In afence-post, a core member, plates en gaging the ends of said core member, tie-rods engaging one of said plates, tension-screws engaging the other of said plates and coupled respectively to said tie-rods, whereby the tensions of said tie-rods may be adjusted, and an envelop of cement inclosing said core 

